PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richie Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richie Barlow has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Barlow
vs
Hawk

224 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

196 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richie Barlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, David Hawk!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawk avoids the body shot from Barlow.

Hawk rushes Barlow and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barlow is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hawk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hawk closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barlow did well to prevent Hawk getting side control.

Hawk stands up from half guard.
Hawk doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barlow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hawk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hawk clinches up against the cage.
Barlow is trying to break the clinch but Hawk is controlling him.

Hawk lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barlow is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Hawk is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barlow sees it coming and defends easily.
Hawk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Hawk is looking for a kimura but Barlow is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hawk to get the leverage.
Barlow preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hawk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hawk looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barlow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barlow is trying to maintain the position but Hawk is very close to passing his half guard.
Hawk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hawk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hawk landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is thwarting Barlow's attempts to control the position.
Hawk content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hawk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hawk preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Barlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Hawk dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barlow lands a nice shot that snaps Hawk's head back.
Hawk throws a right and a left that Barlow avoids nicely.

Hawk moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barlow - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barlow looking to slow down the pace here.

Hawk breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Hawk rushes Barlow and presses him up against the cage.
Hawk has Barlow pressed against the cage, preventing Barlow from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barlow has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow is trying to force a seperation but Hawk has the dominant position.

Barlow breaks from the clinch.
David Hawk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barlow moves into range and connects with a jab.

Hawk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Barlow!

Barlow sneaks out the side door and pushes Hawk away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Hawk gets a double leg takedown into Barlow's guard.
Barlow will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hawk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Barlow knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hawk on the ground.
Hawk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk trying to control the position from guard on top but Barlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barlow looking to control.
Hawk is fighting to break Barlow's control of his arms but Barlow is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barlow wants to sweep here but Hawk controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barlow changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hawk tries to avoid it but Barlow manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hawk to the ground. Hawk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hawk showed some decent athleticism there.
Hawk controlling the pace.
Hawk wants to advance to full mount but Barlow doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Hawk throws a big elbow that misses.
Hawk is stalling in the full guard.
Hawk wanted to stand there but Barlow had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawk passes Barlow's left leg - he's now in half guard.
David Hawk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawk controlling the action here.

Hawk wants to work for an arm triangle but Barlow is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Hawk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hawk fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Barlow to the ground. Hawk is now in Barlow's guard.

Hawk gets to his feet - Barlow follows without any prompting.
Barlow fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Hawk shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Barlow moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hawk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hawk tries to free his leg and advance position but Barlow is retaining full guard.
Hawk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hawk postures up.
Hawk wants to stand but Barlow is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barlow seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Barlow looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barlow has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk has managed to clinch.

Hawk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hawk is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barlow's half guard.

Hawk is looking for a kimura here.
Hawk wants to pass the guard but Barlow is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawk seems to be working for a kimura but Barlow defends the submission attempt.
Barlow is trying to maintain the position but Hawk is very close to passing his half guard.
Richie Barlow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Hawk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
David Hawk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hawk winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Hawk!